Press release ! And Updated Americans of the Sixth Fleet in VsM January 2016 Calling all Sixth Fleet sailors stationed in Villefranche sur Mer from 1950 to 1967 The French Riviera-Monaco Council of the Navy league of the United States has formed an affiliation with the city of Villefranche USS Springfield CLG-7 sur Mer in France and the Association "Les Americans of the 6th fleet in Villefranche sur Mer” Our objective is to commemorate and celebrate the 50 year anniversary (in 2017) since the U.S. Sixth Fleet departed it’s Head Quarters from Villefranche sur Mer to Naples Italy on USS Des Moines CA-134 20 Jan 1967. This was the date when USS Springfield raised it’s anchor for the last time as COM Sixth Fleet Flagship there. We plan to inaugurate “Villefranche à l’Américaine” on 19 January 2017 with a reception for all visiting Shipmates and Officers and sailors from a visiting DDG who will be part of the celebrations. Other events will include exhibitions, conferences, concerts, movie festival, thematic visit of the town, theatre show and educational projects. And the main event, a Gala evening in the Citadel on Sat. 21 Jan. 2017. We are now in the process of contacting and searching for officers, sailors and Marines who were stationed in Villefranche ashore as well as on the Flagship’s USS Des Moines, USS Newport News, USS USS Salem CA-139 Salem, USS Little Rock CLG-4 and USS Springfield CLG-7 the last cruiser to leave Villefranche in 1967. We would like to collect memoirs and photos from sailors of the 6th fleet about their deployment during the period of 1948 to 1967. Many of the officers and sailors married local girls and today there are still about 300 American families living in Villefranche sur Mer. Many will surely remember “La Mere Germaine”, owner of the waterfront restaurant, who helped so many sailors to make them feel at home, she has become a legend in Villefranche and in 2009 a small street just behind the restaurant was named “Alée Mere Germaine” in her honor and 50 years after her death in 1959. Her USS Newport News CA 148 grandson and grand daughter still successfully operate the restaurant. It is Valérie Blouin, the grand daughter of Mom Germaine who is spearheading this project. Should anyone have any stories, testimonials or pictures of this period, please contact: More updates will follow soon. Cornelis Van Vliet Navy League of the United States French Riviera Monaco-Council [email protected] Tel. +33-492 190 749 USS Little Rock CLG-4 Van Vliet served on USS Springfield CLG-7 from Oct.1959- Sept.1960 .